Halloween is almost here! This can be a dangerous time of year for our furry friends. Read on as a Norwalk, CA vet offers tips on keeping your furry friend safe.
Secure The Candy
Candy is a big part of many autumn celebrations. Those sweet treats can be very dangerous for your furry pal, however. Many contain things like nuts, chocolate, raisins, and xylitol, which are all toxic to pets. Your dog or cat could also choke on a hard candy or a candy wrapper. Keep the candy dish in an area your pet can’t get to, and offer them a more suitable treat, like some shredded deli meat.
Keep Pets Indoors
Increased traffic is a big concern around Halloween. If you have a dog, keep him on a tight leash when you are walking him. Pranksters, unfortunately, can also threaten pets at this time of year. We always recommend keeping cats inside, but that goes double for Halloween. Don’t leave Fido in the yard long, especially after dark.
Decorations
Decorations can be quite dangerous to our furry buddies. You don’t want Fido knocking a jack-o-lantern over, or Fluffy eating fake spider webs! Keep anything that your pet may try to eat or play with out of paws’ reach!
Give Fido Time Off Door Duty
Many of our canine pals love to let us know when there is someone at the door. A steady stream of trick-or-treaters can be a bit much for Fido, however. He could also get frightened or agitated by the costumes. Keep your furry friend safe and sound in a quiet back room with food, toys, treats, and bedding when the doorbell starts to ring.
Costumes
We know, pets can be really cute in costumes. However, many cats feel very constricted and frightened in clothing. Fluffy is much more comfortable in her own fur coat! As for Fido, if you do decide to dress him, make sure not to put him in anything tight, hot, itchy, or constricting. Items with small parts, like buttons, are also dangerous, as dogs sometimes try to eat their outfits. Once your pet is dressed, keep a close eye on him. If he seems hot or uncomfortable, take his costume off.
Please reach out to us, your Norwalk, CA vet clinic, with any questions or concerns about your pet’s health or care. We are here to help!
